Two veteran Stamford policemen honored

Top Cops: Two veteran Stamford policemen honored

Published 9:45 pm, Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Stamford Police officers Richard Gasparino and Adrian Novia, both with the Narcotics & Organized Crime Unit, will be honored as 2010 Officers of the Year at an event at The Italian Center. They are photographed in the Stamford Police Station in Stamford, Conn. on Wednesday June 23, 2010. less

Stamford Police officers Richard Gasparino and Adrian Novia, both with the Narcotics & Organized Crime Unit, will be honored as 2010 Officers of the Year at an event at The Italian Center. They are ... more

STAMFORD -- Nine years ago, Stamford police Officer Adrian Novia ran into a burning building and helped five adults and three children to safety.

Three years ago, fellow Officer Richard Gasparino was staking out drug deals from the back of a large sport-utility vehicle when a would-be car thief opened the door and tried to drive off. Gasparino popped up from the back of the vehicle, startling the thief, who then crashed. Gasparino chased the thief on foot and arrested him.

Those anecdotes were just the highlights of two policing careers spent on Stamford streets. Together, Novia and Gasparino share 20 years combined experience as Stamford police officers. On Friday, the narcotics officers will be named by the police union as the 2009 Officers of the Year.

The officers will receive the award at a ceremony held at the Italian Center on Newfield Avenue. Conservative and controversial commentator Glenn Beck is serving as the event's keynote speaker.

Novia, 38, is from Bridgeport and became an officer 11 years ago after getting a criminal justice degree from the University of Connecticut. Gasparino, a Greenwich native, joined the force 10 years ago after taking a few criminal justice courses in college.

Both got their Stamford Police Department starts in patrol cars on the city's West Side. Now they both work in the same narcotics team under Sgt. Chris Gioielli, the supervisor who nominated them as Officers of the Year. Gioielli called Novia and Gasparino hard-working and self-motivated officers who find jobs for themselves when there are none to be assigned.

"You can tell a lot about a person when the boss isn't around," Gioielli said. "Some of their most active days are when I'm not around."

During an interview Wednesday, the officers said they enjoy their work in narcotics investigation, despite the long, odd hours spent tailing suspected dealers.

"Sometimes it's a lot of waiting around for sometimes three or fours hours," Novia said. "But when it happens, it happens quick."

This past winter, the two officers worked alongside federal agents to help nab more than 50 suspected drug dealers and break up regional crack cocaine distribution rings. The investigations are time-consuming but the payoff is rewarding. Gasparino said narcotics officers must forge relationships with residents in order to glean tips.

"You have to have a rapport with the community to get information back," Gasparino said.